Lorin Maazel conducts the Vienna Philharmonic in this 1985 reading of Mahler's Ninth and Tenth symphonies—the final symphonic works of a composer who redefined the form. The Ninth is Mahler's farewell, a five-movement meditation on mortality and acceptance, while the Tenth, left incomplete, contains some of his most private and searching material. Maazel and the Vienna orchestra bring elegance and structure to Mahler's romantic sprawl—you hear every orchestral voice while never losing sight of the whole. These aren't the most emotionally exposed Mahler recordings, but they're beautifully played and conducted with intelligence. A fine entry point if you're exploring late Mahler.